Bryan Golden, Director of Public Safety at Abraham Baldwin College, was recently elected as the fourth vice-president in the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). He is the first campus police chief to be elected to the Executive Board in the history of the organization.
Incorporated in 1962, the GACP has grown in membership, influence, and professionalism to become one of the most respected law enforcement associations in the state. It is the largest professional association for law enforcement administrators in Georgia, and one of the largest in the country.
Membership includes over 1,000 executives representing municipal and county law enforcement agencies, college and university police departments, corporate and private security firms, numerous state and federal agencies, and concerned citizens.
Golden, who won by a 69 percent vote over a municipal chief, will serve as the fourth vice president and continue upward into the position of president. Golden previously served as the Chairman of District Representatives and on various other committees for the GACP.
"I feel honored to have been elected," Golden said. "I can't think of a higher honor than being elected to an office by a group of my peers--other law enforcement officials. I owe a lot to Frank Strickland of Toccoa and Ted Cochran of Kennesaw State University. I believe campus law enforcement owes them a debt of gratitude because they both worked hard to pave the way for campus law enforcement officials."
As the first campus chief to ever be elected to the Executive Board, Golden hopes to establish a precedent whereby more campus police officers will be elected to offices in the GACP.
"The GACP has done a lot to enhance the professionalism of law enforcement in the state of Georgia," Golden said. "I hope to enlighten the other chiefs and help them realize that campus law is not so different from municipal law and hopefully open up opportunities for campus police."
Strickland, Chief of Police in Toccoa, said Golden's election is a great achievement.
"Bryan is a very knowledgeable and professional law enforcement official," Strickland said. "He is very dedicated, and I know he will work hard. I think his being elected attests to the great job he has done in the past. As the first campus law enforcement official at the presidential level, I think he will help break the barrier between municipal and campus police chiefs."
The GACP strives to promote cooperative, professional relationships throughout the state, to evaluate the standards of police institutions and the profession, to offer quality training and continuing education for administrators, and to provide opportunities for police executives to exchange information and experiences.
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